2026 tax year · free calculator
How much should you set aside for taxes?
Federal, state, and self-employment tax — computed from the real 2026 brackets. No AI estimate, no black box. The same math Fern runs on every deposit.
Set aside from every deposit
25%
≈ per year / per month
$18,750
$1,563/mo
Rule of thumb: for every $1,000 you earn, set aside $250.
An estimate for planning purposes, not tax advice or a filing. Uses 2026 federal brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32), self-employment tax with the §199A (QBI) deduction, and state-level rates (Tax Foundation, 2026). Married-filing-separately filers should use "Single" as the closest estimate. Local income taxes (e.g. NYC, Ohio municipal) aren't modeled and would owe more than shown.
Real 2026 brackets
Federal, state, and self-employment tax — not an AI guess.
The full picture
Self-employment tax, the QBI deduction, and your specific state.
You stay in control
This is a starting point. Fern lets you set the final rate yourself.
Fern does this automatically, every time you get paid
No spreadsheet, no monthly math. The moment a deposit lands, Fern reserves what it's for — and shows you exactly what's safe to spend.